Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, 23 year old Yemeni-Eritrean bass-baritone SAM DHOBHANY makes his entrance into the operatic scene by storm. Dhobhany enters into his second year in Houston Grand Opera’s Butler Studio after winning the 2024 Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award in HGO’s 36th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias.

Dhobhany looks forward to an impressive list of debuts in the 25/26 season including Houston Grand Opera’s Butler Studio Production’s Of Mice and Men, where he sings George Milton. In addition, Dhobhany is seen as Undertaker in Porgy and Bess, Ser Amantio di Nicolao in Il Trittico/ Gianni Schicchi, British Major in Silent Night, Bass Soloist (cover) in Messiah, and Officer in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Dhobhany also makes his concert debut as the Bass Soloist in The Santa Fe Symphony’s Messiah.

Dhobhany’s 24/25 season as a Butler Studio Artist included performing the roles of Alidoro in the English Family Day Production of La Cenerentola directed by Isabel Leonard, Customs Officer in La Boheme, and Terry in Breaking the Waves. Dhobhany also covered Schunard in La Boheme and performed scenes as Schunard from La Boheme and Secret Police Agent from The Consul in the Butler Studio Artist Showcase. His season also included receiving Second Prize in the Rocky Mountain Region of the Metropolitan Laffont Competition, Finalist in the prestigious George London Competition, and Finalist in Dallas Opera Lone Star Competition. This summer he joined Wolf Trap Opera as a Filene Artist, where he received rave reviews of his performances as Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro and Zuniga in Carmen.

Dhobhany’s 23/24 season included performing as a second-year Apprentice Artist with The Santa Fe Opera, where he performed Marchese d’Obigny in La Traviata and covered Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore and the Notary in Der Rosenkavalier. He also performed the role of Harašta in The Cunning Little Vixen as scenes in the Apprentice Artist Showcase. Dhobhany’s 23/24 season also included performances as Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with CCM Opera d’arte, Frank in Dayton Opera’s Die Fladermaus, and Bass Soloist in Beethoven’s 9th with Lima Symphony. Dhobhany additionally received a multitude of accolades and awards including Encouragement Award Recipient of the Metropolitan Laffont Great Lakes Regional Competition, Second Prize of the Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s Mildred Miller Vocal Competition, First Prize of Dayton Opera’ Tri-State Vocal Competition, and First Prize of CCM Undergraduate’s Vocal Competition.

In the 2022/23 season, Dhobhany joined his first year as an Apprentice Aritst with The Santa Fe Opera, where he made his company and professional debut as Un Médicin in Pelleas et Melisande. He also appeared as the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, Marcello in La Boheme, and Don Alvaro in Il viaggio a Reims in the Apprentice Scenes Showcase. Additional performances this season included the roles of Simone & Aeneas in CCM Opera d’arte’s double bill of Dido & Aeneas/ Gianni Schicchi as well as performing as the Bass Soloist in Beethoven’s 9th with Acadian Symphony Orchestra.

Additional roles include covering Dottore Grenvil in La Traviata with Wolf Trap Opera and scenes as Don Pizzaro from Fidelio and Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore from his time as a Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist. Additional awards include honors from The Santa Fe Opera, National Opera Association Carolyn Bailey Argento Competition, Schmidt Vocal Arts, and the Young Arts Foundation. Dhobhany is a 2022 HGO YAVA alum and University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (B.M. ‘24) alum, where he studied with Kenneth Shaw.

When Sam is not singing, he enjoys PA announcing for his local Brooklyn basketball team, cooking and grilling new recipes, and spending time with his family, friends, and his partner.